Catalog of banana trees and banana plants offered at Going Bananas Corms or Tissue Culture plants for mail order only 2 gal.

containerized plants, corms and small Tissue Culture plants can be purchased on site Hardy Growing Plants when "GREEN" is more desired than Fruit: Balbisiana, Orinoco, Cardaba, Pelpita, Basjoo, Textiles, FHIA 25 Plants that are Somewhat Cool Tolerant: Ice Cream, Saba, Basjoo, Namwa, Goldfinger (FHIA-1), FHIA-3, Mysore, Praying Hands, Orinoco, Kandrian, Misi Luki, Cardaba Lady Finger Type (fruit is approximately 4-6 inches in length): Mysore, Rajapuri, Nino, Reds, Brazilian, Namwa, Rose, Misi Luki Plants with Unusual Characteristics: Praying Hands, African Rhinohorn, Pisang jari buaya, Truly Tiny, Siam Ruby, Monkey Fingers, Pitogo, Red (Macaboo), Thousand Fingers, Eleele, Zebrina, Kru, GN-X-Sumatrana, Huamoa, Thai Black* Ornamentals: Ornata Types (all colors), Velutina, Zebrina, Thai Black, Musella Iasiocarpa,

 Coccinea, Siam Ruby Plantains: Giant Plantain, Dwarf (PR) Plantain, French Horn, African Rhinohorn Combo: Cooking (green)/Dessert (ripe) Saba, Hua Moa, Cardaba, Pelipita, Balongkaue, Orinoco Polynesian, Cooking & Hilahila sub-Group: Maia Maoli, Popoulu, Hua Moa, Red Iholena, Kandrian Seeded Varieties: Balbisiana, Textiles, Hookerii, Zebrina, Basjoo, Velutina Popular & Favorite Dessert Bananas: Mysore, Goldfinger, Pisang Raja, Namwa, Nino, Brazilian, all Cavendish, Misi Luki, Rajapuri, Red (Macabo) The following varieties are among the rare and limited varieties as well as others noted: These may change often during the year so check with us as to availability.

FHIA 21 & 23, Pisang jari buaya, Hookerii, Namwa, Monthan, Balongkaue, Textiles, Yangambi - KM-5, Nehumbahoka, Ebon Musak, Brunei, Aeae, Siam Ruby, Maia maoil, Popoulu, Viente Cohol, Thai Black*( now called Black Balbisiana) Please Note: Although our plants vary in size, you can be assured they are larger and stronger than other companies that use production-line selections. We strive to give you the best possible plant material and guidance for maintaining your new acquisitions. Call or email with questions, concerns or progress reports on your banana plant collection.

Ph: (305) 247-0397 or email goingbananas@bellsouth.net IN THE ARBORETUM TODAY IN THE ARBORETUM TODAY Varieties: "Cavendish," "Dwarf Orinoco," "Gold Finger," "Ice Cream," "Lady Fingers," "Mysore-Plantain," (r.f.-01) Common names: Anana, Banana, Platano, Cambur, Curro Bananas stalks are popularly referred to as "trees" because they attain heights of thirty feet or more. They are not trees in the correct sense of the term, but large perennial herbs that reach their full growth in one season. The banana is one of the largest known plants without a woody stem or trunk. It is really a giant "shoot." What appears to be a solid stalk or trunk of the plant is actually only a hollow sheath of leaves, a succulent, very juicy stem (a pseudo-stem) which is a cylinder of petiole sheaths arising from a fleshy rhizome or core. Through this tubular stalk a stem or spike shoots up and bears the flowers.

At first it is a large, oval, purple bud. As it opens, first one can see the female tubular white flowers clustered in whorls in double rows along the floral stalk. From these the berries (fruits) will form. Then hermaphroditic flowers appear next, producing small, undeveloped, and useless fruits. Lastly the male flowers open. Once the stalk has fruited, it will not produce again so it should be cut off to provide more room for the shoots. Bananas are propagated from suckers or "pups" that sprout from buds along the underground bulb or corm. A good sucker of some varieties could fruit in as little as 9 months under optimum conditions, but it would probably take 16 months. In banana talk, the oldest sucker becomes the fruiting plant and is called the "stalk." The suckers are called "pups," and the very small shoots are called "buttons." Suckers spring around the main plant to form a clump. The oldest sucker replaces the main plant when it has fruited and then died. The leaves unfurl at the rate of one per week in the warm weather.

The flower is a terminal spike shooting out from the heart of the stem. The fruit, botanically called a berry, is usually harvested when mature in size but green. Each bunch is composed of a number of clusters, known to the fruit trade as "hands." Very often the stalk is cut and hung in the garage, and the bananas are harvested from it as they ripen "hand-by-hand." Bananas are grown today in every humid tropical region. Bananas require as much warmth as can be given, like planting them next to a building. Bananas will grow in most soils but they thrive in the richest soil possible and prefer acid soil. They like a lot of water but can not take flooding. They have a high nitrogen and phosphorus requirement; an 8:10:8 NPK fertilizer will be adequate. Plantains are varieties that are grown for cooking, either green or ripe. They are starchy and have lower moisture content than bananas. Plantains are not as "cold-hardy" as most banana varieties.

Ripe plantains are good in breads or cakes and don't turn dark like regular bananas Dwarf-Orinoco Banana Plants Banana Trees info@Banana-Plants.com Melbourne, Florida Ice Cream Banana trees have a hint of Vanilla taste in its bananas, Dwarf Red Banana trees that have a hint of Peach, the Apple Banana tree has a taste of a Sweet Apple, Rose Banana trees have a Lemony flavor. We have all the banana fruit flavors, grow them inside or outside. We charge only $7.95 for as many plants as you want, save a lot, and its for priority mail with conformation in the U.S.A. Be careful when buying field grown banana tree offshoots. Some growers sell water banana tree shoots which have big leaves when small, these banana plants are no good for landscaping or bananas and should be cut off as the main banana plant grows. Good field grown banana tree offshoots (corms) have sword like thin leaves until 3' tall. We have banana plants grown from healthy tissue culture Clones. It is the only way to get disease free healthy banana plants. My banana trees are guaranteed to grow and to arrive in good condition. Banana plant growing instructions are included.

Banana trees should produce very sweet tasting bananas in 9 TO 12 months. The height can be controlled on most all banana plants, to any size, by just holding back on the fertilizer or the pot size. All of these banana trees below will survive light freezes, the Ice Cream is the hardiest of edible bananas. You must contact us within 4 days for damage by shipping or to get a replacement or refund with returned plant. We are a registered mail order Plant Nursery in Melbourne, Fl. and try to give 100% Top Quality service. You may also send a check or money order to: Greenearth Publishing Inc. P.O.Box 243, Melbourne Florida 32902. Banana plants shipped only in the U.S.A. We sell the easiest banana plants and banana trees to grow and all can be grown in full sun, shade or inside your home. All Banana Plants weight is more than 16 oz. We have a perfect record with the Better Business Bureau. All small plants are 2 months old not 1 month like most sell. Dwarf Cavendish banana tree - banana plant shipping Now. Dwarf Cavendish banana plants get 5 to 6ft.

and produces wonderful sweet tasting fruit. A vigorous banana tree with wider green leaves. One of the more common banana plant varieties in the USA. It is often seen container grown in back yards and botanical gardens alike. These banana trees have large bunches of full sized sweet smooth fruit. Beautiful healthy 12" banana plant with wide leaves shipped. ICE CREAM (Blue Java) Banana tree - Banana plant .A very beautiful, cool tolerant banana plant with texture and flavor similar to vanilla ice cream. This banana tree has beautiful large leaves and produces medium bunches of silvery blue bananas that are very delicious fresh or cooked. Mature banana tree height 12'. approx. Approx. 12" high healthy banana plant shipped. Rowe Red banana plants - banana trees This is a banana plant grown for its attractive foliage only. The fruit is seeded and inedible. The slender banana plant grows 5-7 feet and is wind and cold resistant. The banana tree is well adapted to container growing and when grown this way will only reach 3-5 feet unless grown in a very large container. The banana tree stem is completely red. The banana plant leaves are narrow with green and red mottling on the top and solid maroon coloring on the bottom.

Beautiful approx. 12" banana plant shipped. Dwarf Green - Red banana plant - banana tree This is a beautiful dwarf green banana plant with red and green markings. This banana tree grows to 8'. Sweet tasting, green skinned fruit that turns yellow. Dark red & green trunk and on the borders of the large green leaves is a very thin red line. This is a Dwarf Red banana tree that mutates to a Green Red banana tree. A great banana plant for collecters. Real nice approx. 12" size banana plant. Hawaiian Red Iholena banana trees - banana plants Hawaiian Red Iholena banana tree is a versatile variety and is not only a beautiful banana plant, with the underside of the banana tree leaves being a soft burgundy color, but also used for eating out of hand, dehydrating, and cooking. This has to be the one of the best looking banana plants reaching up to 12' with good growing conditions. Very sweet dessert banana. Nice healthy approx. 12" banana plant shipped. MYSORE Banana tree - banana plant The banana tree with the most popular and delicious lady finger bananas we have tasted.

Popular in India, the mysore banana trees are an important commercial crop for that area of the world and we see why. The shelf life of these delicious little morsels out last any other by several days. They are sturdy and resistant to most problems as well as a fast growing banana tree. It is green leafed with a red midrib. Undersides of banana plant leaves have pinkish, waxy coating. Loved by children and adults alike! Banana tree Height 14- 16 ft. Healthy approx. 12" to 14" banana plant shipped. Apple banana tree - banana plant Dessert type banana tree, pleasant apple flavor when fully ripe. Fruit: 4 to 6 inches. This banana tree grows to 10 to 12 feet. The size and quality of this banana tree makes it one of the worlds best eating bananas as well as one of the best dessert bananas. Very thin skined when ripe and super flavor. Sweetest banana I've ever eaten. Excellent banana tree for container growing as in the ground. Nice looking too. Healthy approx. 12" high banana plant shipped with soil.

Lady Finger Banana tree Banana plant Indian cultivar banana tree with may small, very tasty fruits. It is wind and disease resistant. A very beautiful plant with large green leaves. Can reach heights of up to 16’. Healthy 12" plant with soil shipped. Saba banana tree - banana plant If you want a big banana tree fast get this one. The "sequoia" of the banana plants with huge pseudostem (range 12- 24" diameter) and banana tree heights ranging from 16-20 ft. here, however the height can be controled to any size by just holding back on the banana plant fertilizer. Does great indoors. The wonderful tasting cooking banana makes the best tostones we have ever eaten. Can be eaten raw also, A sturdy banana plant and somewhat cool tolerant. A must for the collector. Very healthy approx. 12" to 14" banana plant shipped. Dwarf Red banana tree - banana plant This banana tree is known by many names in other parts of the world, (Cuban Red banan tree, Jamaican Red banana tree, Indio, Macaboo, etc) this very sweet lady finger banana plant type fruit is one of the most beautiful.

It turns "sunset" colors when ripening from dark burgundy to orange, yellow-green and mutated colors in between. The full bodied flavor and distinctive sweetness make it worth the wait to give fruit. My Favorite eating banana of all types, has a mellow peach flavor. The banana plant is very attractive, having a dark maroon pseudostem and redish pink in the midrib of the leaves. Very wide green leaves that are so beautiful. The dwarf Red banana tree grows 8 ft. to 10'. Beautiful healthy dwarf red banana plant approx 12" with soil. High Color Mini Banana Plant This is a Super Dwarf Cavendish banana plant variety that only gets 3' high. Produces excellent dessert type fruit. Great for indoors. Has red bloches on leaf top, a beautiful potted plant too. Nice 1 month old plant shipped with soil. BASJOO banana trees - banana plants The plant has long, slender, bright green leaves. The ‘Basjoo’ is the world’s cold hardiest banana tree. It is hardy planted in ground to -3°F and with protective mulching it can survive temperatures reaching down to -20°F.

Its inflorescence is one of the most beautiful of all bananas. Strong fibers in the trunk of the 'Basjoo' have been used to make fabrics. It is a great landscape plant, it lends a tropical appearance to any situation. This is a great addition for gardeners living in cold temperate areas. 'Basjoo' also does very well in containers and makes a good interior plant. This banana can be grown in all 50 states. Does not produce edible bananas... Approx. 12" tall healthy banana plant shipped. Giant Plantain tree The ‘Giant Plantain’ is rather slender and grows to a height of about 14 to 18 feet. The plant produces heads of long fruit with five to seven hands. The fruit are usually cooked rather than eaten fresh. The ‘Giant Plantain’ is not very wind tolerant but will grow well in protected areas. Healthy approx 12" plant with soil shipped. ROSE banana plant - banana tree One of our latest banana tree acquisitions and a real beauty. The slender banana tree pseudostem displays a soft reddish color and grows rapidly. The small fruit are very sweet and delicate.

This banana tree is resistant to fusarium wilt, grows 6-8 ft. tall. Approx. 12" high healthy banana plant shipped. Goldfinger Banana tree Banana plant A recent product of the banana plant breeding program in Honduras, this cultivar has commercial potential. This banana tree has a high wind resistance, some cold tolerance, and excellent disease resistance with s strong pseudostem and base. It is an outstanding producer of delicious tasting bananas. Healthy approx 12" high plant with soil. Pitogo Banana Plant Banana Tree 'Pitogo' is a very unusual banana. It has a solid green pseudostem 10 to 12 feet in height. Banana resemble tennis balls in size and in shape; they are round not elongated. A Dessert banana with excellent flavor. 'Pitogo' is a must for serious collectors. Grows in Zone 8-10. Healthy approx. 12" high plant with soil shipped. Praying Hands Banana tree Banana Plant This banana tree produces perhaps the most unusual and distinctive of all banana fruits. Two adjacent hands of bananas are fused, giving the appearance of praying hands.

This is not just a collector’s item, the fruits are delicious ripe, containing a hint of vanilla flavor. When totally ripe, individual bananas can be carefully separated from each other. An excellent all- around plant with some wind resistance; it is very collectible. Healthy approx. 12" tall plant with soil shipped. Rajapuri Banana Tree Banana Plant The 'Rajapuri' is small at 6 to 8 feet tall. This banana plant that originated from India is a first choice for landscaping. The banana plant is totally green, has a very thick stem and stands up very well to wind. The leaves are wider than those of most bananas growing up to 3 feet wide. It is the best plant to grow in marginal areas or where a grower does not intend to put much care into the cultivation of bananas. The heads of fruit are of moderate size with medium sized fruit that are very sweet. Healthy approx. 12" tall plant with soil shipped. Williams Hybrid Banana Tree Banana Plant 'Williams Hybrid' is one of the main bananas of commerce. This banana plant grows to 6 to 8 feet. They produce very large heads of fruit that are sweet and delicious. They are wind resistant and cold hardy. Healthy approx.

12" high plant with siol shipped. 1000 Fingers Banana tree banana plant This novelty is as unique as beautiful. When full grown at 10-12 ft. It produces a stalk of tiny round bananas that can continue to make fruit until it touches the ground (sometimes 5 ft. long or more) Mostly used for ornamentation or landscape however the fruit is edible and sweet. Banana Leaves for Cooking 2 Big Banana leaves (approx. 4'x 2') for cooking. This is a little more than comes in the frozen packs available from others. And these are Fresh cut the day we send. 6 to 12 leaves needed usually for med. pig. Shipped by priority mail. See recipes at the banana info page. More Banana plant info (Banana Leaves Recipes at bottom of this page) Banana Plant Information Banana plants are the largest plants on earth without a woody stem. They are actually giant herbs of the same family as lilies, orchids and palms. Today's commercial banana trees are scientifically classified into the genus Musa of the Musaceae family. The Cavendish banana tree is the most common variety of bananas now imported to the United States.

The Cavendish banana tree is a shorter, stubbier plant than earlier varieties. It was developed to resist plant diseases, insects and windstorms better than its predecessors. The Cavendish banana tree fruit is of medium size, has a creamier, smooth texture, and a thinner peel than earlier varieties. Banana trees are perennial crops that are grown and harvested year-round. The banana plant does not grow from a seed but rather from a rhizome or bulb. Each fleshy banana plant bulb will sprout new shoots year after year. Each banana plant bears only one stem of fruit. To produce a new stem, only two shoots - known as the daughter and the granddaughter - are allowed to grow and be cultivated from the main banana plant. The banana tree reaches its full height of 6 to 25 feet in about one year. The trunk of a banana plant is made of sheaths of overlapping leaves, tightly wrapped around each other like celery stalks. When a banana tree leaf formation is completed, a flowering stalk emerges from the top and a large bud grows downward from the stalk's tip. Purplish leaves around the bud unfold and banana blossoms are revealed. Each female blossom becomes an individual banana fruit.

On each banana tree stem, ten or more bananas growing together are called "hands" and a single banana is called a "finger." Four to six bananas sold in the retail store are called a "cluster." Within 10 to 12 months, banana tree stems are ready to be harvested. Stems average 150 fingers and weigh 85 to 100 pounds each. Once a stem is removed, the main plant is cut away and the daughter becomes the main plant repeated the cycle. The banana (Musa accuminata) is a berry formed from a superior ovary of three joined carpels arranged in an axile placentation. The flowers are born on long and pendulous inflorescence which are usually unisexual, that is, the female flowers are born near to the base of the peduncle (producing the typical banana berry fruits) whilst the male flowers are born on the tip of the same peduncle. Seed may be produced or more usually, develop the berry parthenocarpically. Both the seeded and the parthenocarpic berry are very similar in structure when flowering.

Broad, long, graceful leaves and rapid growth- commonly reaching full size in just a few weeks- make banana a favorite plant for providing a tropical look to pool and patio areas. The development of bananas following a frost-free winter is a source of both pride and amazement to those unfamiliar with banana culture. Banana is a tropical herbaceous plant consisting of an underground corm and a trunk (pseudostem) comprised of concentric layers of leaf sheaths. At 10 to 15 months after the emergence of a new plant, its true stem rapidly grows up through the center and emerges as a terminal inflorescence which bears fruit. The flowers appear in groups (hands) along the stem and are covered by purplish bracts which roll back and shed as the fruit stem develops. The first hands to appear contain female flowers which will develop into bananas (usually seedless in edible types). The number of hands of female flowers varies from a few to more than 10, after which numerous hands of sterile flowers appear and shed in succession, followed by numerous hands of male flowers which also shed. Generally, a bract rolls up and sheds to expose a new hand of flowers almost daily.

Banana grows in a wide variety of soils, as long as the soil is deep and has good internal and surface drainage. The effect of poorly drained soils can be partly overcome by planting in raised beds, as the plant does not tolerate poor drainage or flooding. The planting site should be chosen for protection from wind and cold weather, if possible. The warmest location in the home landscape is near the south or southeast side of the house. Banana Plant FROST Protection: Bananas flourish best under uniformly warm conditions but can survive 28° F for short periods. If the temperature does not fall below 22° F and the cold period is short, the underground rhizome will usually survive. To keep the plants that are above ground producing, protection against low temperatures is very important. Wrap trunk or cover with blanket if the banana plants are small and low temperatures are predicted. You can also dig up the roots with or without the banana plant above the ground, and store in a dark dry place inside untill spring. This is the best way for most. Banana tree Fertilization: Their rapid growth rate make bananas plants heavy feeders.

During warm weather, apply a balanced fertilizer once a month-- a 8:10:8 NPK fertilizer appears to be adequate. A mature plant may require as much as 1-1/2 to 2 pounds of the above fertilizer each month. Young banana plants need a quarter to a third as much. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the plant in a circle extending 4 feet from the trunk. Feed container banana plants on the same monthly schedule using about half the rate for outside plants. Soil: Banana plants will grow in most soils, but to thrive, they should be planted in a rich, well- drained soil. The best possible location would be above an abandoned compost heap. Cold protection of the top is possible by use of coverings and heat sources, but such is not often practical. However, in colder locations, soil can be banked around the trunk just before a projected cold spell to better protect the underground buds, which will allow the plant to regenerate in the coming spring. Unprotected but well-established bananas across the U.S., with some exceptions, will regenerated after light freezes. Some people dig the entire plant, rhizome and all, remove the leaves and store the plant, dry, in a heated area over winter.

To assure survival, it is easier to dig small suckers, severed very close to the parent rhizome, and pot them for overwintering indoors. BANANA Fruit Facts Common Names: Banana, Bananier Nain, Canbur, Curro, Plantain Origin: Edible bananas originated in the Indo-Malaysian region reaching to northern Australia. Species: Musa acuminata Colla, M. X paradisiaca L. (hybrid) Related species Abyssinian Banana (Ensete ventricossum Cheesman), Musa balbisina Colla, M. ornata Roxb., M. textilis Nee Adaptation Bananas and plantains are today grown in every humid tropical region and constitutes the 4th largest fruit crop of the world. The plant needs 10 - 15 months of frost-free conditions to produce a flower stalk. All but the hardiest varieties stop growing when the temperature drops below 53° F. Growth of the plant begins to slow down at about 80° F and stop entirely when the temperature reaches 100° F. High temperatures and bright sunlight will also scorch leaves and fruit, although bananas grow best in full sun.

Freezing temperatures will kill the foliage. In most areas bananas require wind protection for best appearance and maximum yield. They are also susceptible to being blown over. Bananas, especially dwarf varieties, make good container specimens if given careful attention. The plant will also need periodic repotting as the old plant dies back and new plants develop. DESCRIPTION Growth Habit: Bananas are fast-growing herbaceous perennials arising from underground rhizomes. The fleshy stalks or pseudostems formed by upright concentric layers of leaf sheaths constitute the functional trunks. The true stem begins as an underground corm which grows upwards, pushing its way out through the center of the stalk 10-15 months after planting, eventually producing the terminal inflorescence which will later bear the fruit. Each stalk produces one huge flower cluster and then dies. New stalks then grow from the rhizome. Banana plants are extremely decorative, ranking next to palm trees for the tropical feeling they lend to the landscape. Foliage: The large oblong or elliptic leaf blades are extensions of the sheaths of the pseudostem and are joined to them by fleshy, deeply grooved, short petioles.

The leaves unfurl, as the plant grows, at the rate of one per week in warm weather, and extend upward and outward , becoming as much as 9 feet long and 2 feet wide. They may be entirely green, green with maroon splotches, or green on the upper side and red-purple beneath. The leaf veins run from the mid-rib straight to the outer edge of the leaf. Even when the wind shreds the leaf, the veins are still able to function. Approximately 44 leaves will appear before the inflorescence. Flowers: The banana inflorescence shooting out from the heart in the tip of the stem, is at first a large, long-oval, tapering, purple-clad bud. As it opens, the slim, nectar-rich, tubular, toothed, white flowers appear. They are clustered in whorled double rows along the the floral stalk, each cluster covered by a thick, waxy, hood like bract, purple outside and deep red within. The flowers occupying the first 5 - 15 rows are female.

As the rachis of the inflorescence continues to elongate, sterile flowers with abortive male and female parts appear, followed by normal staminate ones with abortive ovaries. The two latter flower types eventually drop in most edible bananas. Fruits: The ovaries contained in the first (female) flowers grow rapidly, developing parthenocarpically (without pollination) into clusters of fruits, called hands. The number of hands varies with the species and variety. The fruit (technically a berry) turns from deep green to yellow or red, and may range from 2-1/2 to 12 inches in length and 3/4 to 2 inches in width. The flesh, ivory-white to yellow or salmon-yellow, may be firm, astringent, even gummy with latex when unripe, turning tender and slippery, or soft and mellow or rather dry and mealy or starchy when ripe. The flavor may be mild and sweet or subacid with a distinct apple tone. The common cultivated types are generally seedless with just vestiges of ovules visible as brown specks. Occasionally, cross-pollination with wild types will result in a number of seeds in a normally seedless variety.

CULTURE Location: Bananas require as much warmth as can be given them. Additional warmth can be given by planting next to a building. Planting next to cement or asphalt walks or driveways also helps. Wind protection is advisable, not for leaf protection as much as for protection of the plant after the banana stalk has appeared. During these last few months propping should be done to keep the plant from tipping or being blown over. Soil: Bananas will grow in most soils, but to thrive, they should be planted in a rich, well-drained soil. The best possible location would be above an abandoned compost heap. They prefer an acid soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. The banana is not tolerant of salty soils. Irrigation: The large leaves of bananas use a great deal of water. Regular deep watering is an absolute necessity during warm weather. Do not let plants dry out, but do not overwater. Standing water, especially in cool weather, will cause root rot. Plants grown in dry summer areas such as Southern California need periodic deep waterings to help leach the soil of salts. Spread a thick layer of mulch on the soil to help conserve moisture and protect the shallow roots.

Container grown plants should be closely watched to see that they do not dry out. An occasional deep watering to leach the soil is also helpful. Fertilization: Their rapid growth rate make bananas heavy feeders. During warm weather, apply a balanced fertilizer once a month--a 8:10:8 NPK fertilizer appears to be adequate. A mature plant may require as much as 1-1/2 to 2 pounds of the above fertilizer each month. Young plants need a quarter to a third as much. Spread the fertilizer evenly around the plant in a circle extending 4 - 8 feet from the trunk. Do not allow the fertilizer to come in contact with the trunk. Feed container container plants on the same monthly schedule using about half the rate for outside plants. Frost Protection: Bananas flourish best under uniformly warm conditions but can survive 28° F for short periods. If the temperature does not fall below 22° F and the cold period is short, the underground rhizome will usually survive. To keep the plants that are above ground producing, protection against low temperatures is very important. Wrap trunk or cover with blanket if the plants are small and low temperatures are predicted.

Pruning Only one primary stem of each rhizome should be allowed to fruit. All excess shoots should be removed as soon as they are noticed. This helps channel all of of the plant's energy into fruit production. Once the main stalk is 6 - 8 months old, permit one sucker to develop as a replacement stalk for the following season. When the fruit is harvested, cut the fruiting stalk back to 30 inches above the ground. Remove the stub several weeks later. The stalk can be cut into small pieces and used as mulch. Propagation: Propagation of bananas is done with rhizomes called suckers or pups. Very small pups are called buttons. Large suckers are the preferred planting material. These are removed from vigorous clumps with a spade when at least three feet tall, during warm months. Pups should not be taken until a clump has at least three to four large plants to anchor it. When the pup is taken the cut must be into the mother plant enough to obtain some roots. Plant close to the surface. Large leaves are cut off of the pup leaving only the youngest leaves or no leaves at all. Some nurseries supply banana plants as container grown suckers.

Pests and Diseases: Bananas have few troublesome pests or diseases outside the tropics. Root rot from cold wet soil is by far the biggest killer of banana plants in our latitudes. California is extremely fortunate in not having nematodes that are injurious to the banana. Gophers topple them, and snails and earwigs will crawl up to where they can get continuous water, but these pests do not bother the plant. Fruit Harvest: Stalks of bananas are usually formed in the late summer and then winter over. In March they begin "plumping up" and may ripen in April. Occasionally, a stalk will form in early summer and ripen before cold weather appears. The fruit can be harvested by cutting the stalk when the bananas are plump but green. For tree-ripened fruit, cut one hand at a time as it ripens. If latter is done, check stalk daily as rodents can eat the insides of every banana, from above, and the stalk will look untouched. Once harvested the stalk should be hung in a cool, shady place.

Since ethylene helps initiate and stimulate ripening, and mature fruit gives off this gas in small amounts, ripening can be hastened by covering the bunch with a plastic bag. Plantains are starchy types that are cooked before eating. CULTIVARS The antiquity of the banana and its tendency to produce mutations or sports have resulted in an extensive number of cultivars. Only the common ones growing in California are listed. Apple, Silk, or Manzana Dessert type, pleasant sub-acid apple flavor when fully ripe. Fruit: 4 to 6 inches. Grows to 10 to 12 feet. The fruit is not ripe until some brownish specs appear on the skin. From planting until harvest is approximately 15 months. Cavendish Resistant to Panama Wilt disease. Clones of this variety are distinguished by the size of the pseudostem. The largest is Lacatan (12 to 18 feet) followed by Robusta and Giant Cavendish (10 to 16 feet). The smallest is the Dwarf Cavendish (4 to 7 feet). Cuban Red Very tall (up to 25 feet), very tropical.

Skin dark red, with generally reddish pseudostem. Fruit is especially aromatic with cream-orange pulp. 20 months from planting until harvest. Gros Michel Commercially, the most important and considered by many to be the most flavorful. Because of its susceptibility to Panama Wilt disease it is being replaced with resistant varieties. Although there is no Panama Wilt in California, it does poorly here as the plant seems to need more heat and it tends to grow more slowly than other varieties Ice Cream or Blue Java Medium-tall (15 to 20 feet), bluish cast to the unripe fruit. Fruit: 7 to 9 inches, quite aromatic and is said to melt in the mouth like ice cream. Bunches are small with seven to nine hands. 18 to 24 months from planting until harvest. Lady Finger Tall (20 to 25 feet), excellent-quality fruit, tolerant of cool conditions. 15 to 18 months from planting to harvest. Orinoco Commonly grown in California for years as a landscape plant. Grows to 16 feet, more cold hardy than any other. 15 to 18 months from planting to harvest.

Flavor is good, texture is less than perfect, but when properly grown and cultivated it can produce enormous stalks of fruit. Excellent in banana bread. Sometimes called horse, hog or burro banana, it can be purchased at most nurseries. Popoulu A Hawaiian variety with short, salmon-pink flesh, plump fruit that may be cooked or eaten fresh. A slender plant preferring a protected area with high humidity and filtered light. Grows to about 14 feet tall. Valery A Cavendish clone resembling the Robusta. Some believe them to be the same. The Dwarf Cavendish is the most widely planted as it is better adapted to a cool climate and is less likely to be blown over. Williams The same as Giant Cavendish. Originated from a mutation of Dwarf Cavendish found in Queensland, Australia. A commercial banana grown in many countries that does well in California. 10 to 16 feet in height and has a distinctive long, very large bud. The Del Monte is a Williams. FURTHER READING Lessard, William O. Complete Book of Bananas. William O. Lessard, Publisher. 1992 Morton, Julia F. Fruits of Warm Climates.

Creative Resources Systems, Inc. 1987. pp. 29-46 Ortho Books. All About Citrus and Subtropical Fruits. Chevron Chemical Co. 1985. pp. 20-23 Banana | Fruit & Nut Resources Fruit & Nut Resources Julian W. Sauls Extension Horticulturist Broad, long, graceful leaves and rapid growth-commonly reaching full size in just a few weeks-make banana a favorite plant for providing a tropical look to pool and patio areas. The development of bananas following a frost-free winter is a source of both pride and amazement to those unfamiliar with banana culture. Banana is a tropical herbaceous plant consisting of an underground corm and a trunk (pseudostem) comprised of concentric layers of leaf sheaths. At 10 to 15 months after the emergence of a new plant, its true stem rapidly grows up through the center and emerges as a terminal inflorescence which bears fruit. The flowers appear in groups (hands) along the stem and are covered by purplish bracts which roll back and shed as the fruit stem develops. The first hands to appear contain female flowers which will develop into bananas (usually seedless in edible types).

The number of hands of female flowers varies from a few to more than 10, after which numerous hands of sterile flowers appear and shed in succession, followed by numerous hands of male flowers which also shed. Generally, a bract rolls up and sheds to expose a new hand of flowers almost daily. Climate Banana is a tropical plant which grows best under warm conditions. Frost will kill the leaves; temperatures in the high 20s can kill the plant to the ground. In the lower Rio Grande Valley and other protected areas, the plant will regrow from below ground buds. In colder areas where banana is used mostly as an ornamental, new plants are obtained and planted each spring. The leaves are tattered badly by strong winds, rendering the plant less attractive. Strong winds, in conjunction with saturated soil and the weight of a stem of fruit, can result in significant blow down unless guying or other protection is provided. Soil and Site Selection Banana grows in a wide variety of soils, as long as the soil is deep and has good internal and surface drainage. The effect of poorly drained soils can be partly overcome by planting in raised beds, as the plant does not tolerate poor drainage or flooding.

The planting site should be chosen for protection from wind and cold weather, if possible. The warmest location in the home landscape is near the south or southeast side of the house. Varieties There are numerous named varieties and several unnamed types. For purely ornamental use, both unnamed seedy types and named varieties will suffice. Most are tall-growing and have green leaves, but ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ only reaches about 6 feet in height, and there is a mottled or splotchy red-leafed ornamental which can sometimes be located in the nursery trade. From the standpoint of fruit production, ‘Orinoco’ or ‘Horse’ banana has a coarse-looking fruit about 6 inches long by 2 inches in diameter that is primarily used in cooking. ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ is a short, compact variety that produces fruit typical of those in the supermarket. Because of its size, wind damage is less severe. ‘Lady Finger’ is a standard-size plant which bears thin-skinned fruit about 1 inch in diameter and 4 inches in length. Its flavor is superior to supermarket bananas.

‘Apple’ or ‘Manzana’ is very similar to ‘Lady Finger’ in all respects except that its fruit imparts an aftertaste very much like the taste of a fresh apple. Plantains are cooking bananas, but they apparently are not available in South Texas. Other varieties which may be found in the nursery trade include ‘Cavendish’, ‘Ice Cream’ and others. Propagation and Planting Suckers are used for propagation, being taken when they have a stem diameter of 2 to 6 inches. The leaves are commonly cut off in nursery trade, but decapitation at 2 to 3 feet is satisfactory. The sucker should be dug carefully, using a sharpshooter or spade to cut the underground base of the sucker from the side of its mother rhizome. Large suckers can be decapitated at ground level and halved or quartered (vertically) to increase planting material. Nurserymen transplant from the field into containers for retail use, so planting these bananas is much the same as planting any container-grown plant. Sucker transplanting should be at the same depth as the sucker was growing originally.

For ornamental purposes, bananas may be planted as close as 2 to 3 feet apart, but those planted for fruit production should be spaced about 8 to 10 feet apart. Culture Weed and grass competition should be eliminated prior to planting. Mulching is useful to prevent weed regrowth, but turfgrass may need to be controlled by hoeing or with herbicides. Irrigation should be applied periodically to thoroughly wet the soil. Avoid standing water, as bananas do not tolerate overly wet conditions. Fertilization requirements under Texas conditions have not been researched. However, it is reasonable to presume that nitrogen will be the only limiting nutrient in most situations. For new plants, one quarter cup of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0), watered in, after the plant commences regrowth should be applied monthly for the first three to four months. The rate can be increased over time to two cups per month when fruiting begins. Established plantings of several plants together should receive about two cups of ammonium sulfate every couple of months throughout the year. Cold protection of the top is possible by use of coverings and heat sources, but such is not often practical.

However, in colder locations, soil can be banked around the trunk just before a projected cold spell to better protect the underground buds, which will allow the plant to regenerate in the coming spring. Unprotected but well-established bananas across South Texas, with some exceptions, regenerated after both the ’83 and ’89 freezes. Some people dig the entire plant, rhizome and all, remove the leaves and store the plant, dry, in a heated area over winter. To assure survival, it is easier to dig small suckers, severed very close to the parent rhizome, and pot them for overwintering indoors. Pruning is normally practiced only to provide suckers for propagation, as most banana plantings are allowed to grow freely in mats of several plants of varying age and size. For fruit production, some pruning would be desirable to limit the number of plants per mat to 5 or 6. Suckers can be quickly dispatched with a sharpshooter or machete when they are only a few inches tall; however, the sucker must be severed from its mother plant underground. After fruiting, the mother plant which bore should be cut off near ground level, as it can never produce again.

The old trunk will quickly decompose if cut into three or four pieces, with each piece then being split lengthwise. Use the remains in a mulch bed or compost heap. After a major cold period in which there is no doubt that bananas were killed to the ground, cut the plants off at ground level within a couple of weeks of the freeze. Dead bananas are not very attractive and they are much easier to cut off before decomposition starts. Tattered older leaves can be removed after they break and hang down along the trunk. Production, Maturity and Use Most bananas will produce the flower bud within 10 to 15 months of emergence as a new sucker, depending mostly on variety and extent of cool/cold weather. Most production north of the lower Rio Grande Valley occurs in the spring and summer following a particularly mild winter. The reddish purple bracts of the flower roll back and split to expose a hand of bananas, usually at the rate of one per day. After all hands with viable fruit are exposed, the bracts continue to roll back and split for several weeks, leaving a bare stem between the fruit and the bud.

There is no advantage to leaving the bud longer then necessary; it may be broken off a few inches below the last viable hand of fruit. Well-tended bananas in commerce produce fruit stems approaching 100 pounds, but such yields are rare under Texas conditions. The more delicately flavored, small-fruited varieties may attain stem weights of 35 to 40 pounds. Most Texas producers readily accept production of stems having only two or three hands, although six to eight hands per stem is common for well-tended plants. Bananas do not always attain best eating quality on the tree. The entire stem (bunch) should be cut off when the individual bananas are plump (full) and rounded. Although green in color, the fruit is mature and will ripen to good eating quality. The stem of fruit should be hung in a cool, shaded place to ripen. Ripening will proceed naturally in a few days (if properly harvested), but can be hastened by enclosing the bunch in a plastic bag with a sliced apple for about a day. Once ripening starts on the oldest hand, the entire bunch will ripen within a couple of days.

Ripe bananas are consumed fresh out-of-hand, in salads, compotes, ice-cream dishes and pudding. Overripe fruit can be pureed in the blender for use in ice cream and baking. Both dessert and cooking bananas may be fried or baked, but the cooking bananas are generally more starchy until nearly spoiled ripe, and their fresh flavor is not so good. Green (mature but not ripe) bananas and plaintains can also be sliced thinly and fried for a starchy treat. Disease and Insect Pests Bananas in commerce are subject to a number of serious diseases and pests, but few problems have been documented in South Texas. An unidentified fungal leaf spot has been observed, but no serious damage has resulted. Leaf tattering by wind is the most common problem. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and that no endorsement by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is implied. Educational programs conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin.

Fruits and Nuts for Alachua County - UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office – Solutions for Your Life Tropic Sweet, Anna, and Dorsett Golden (together for cross pollination). Avocado Mexicola, Gainesville, Day, Teague, Topa Topa, Brogdon, Winter Mexican, and Young in warmer parts of County. Must protect from freeze or frost. Banana Dwarf Cavendish, Orinoco Plantain, Raja Puri, Ice Cream, Lady Finger, Mysore. Must protect from freeze or frost. Blackberry Brazos, Roseborough, Chickasaw, Chactau, Kiowa (all thorny). Black Walnut Thomas, Victoria, and Captain. Blueberry Highbush - Star, Millennia and Emerald, Windsor (earliest); Rabbiteye - Climax, Beckyblue, Austin, Woodard and Bonita (Early); Chaucer, Brightwell, Powderblue and Tifblue (later). Plant several within each group together for cross pollination. Bunch Grape Blue Lake, Conquistador, Daytona, Blanc Dubois, Stover, Suwannee, Lake Emerald and Orlando Seedless.

Cattley Guava Any Chinese or American-Chinese chestnut crosses. Plant at least two varieties for cross pollination. Chinquapin Native Florida Chestnut relative. Citrus Owari Satsuma tangerine and Kumquats are hardiest. Also, early oranges including Navel, Hamlin, Parson Brown and Ambersweet. Triumph grapefruit (others not as hardy). Dancy, Ponkan (Chinese Honey) Robinson, Sunburst, Page and Fallglo Tangerines. Minneola and Orlando Tangelos. Limequat, Calamardin and Meyer Lemon. Robinson, Minneola, Orlando, Page and Sunburst need other varieties for cross pollination. Protect from freezes. These should be on cold hardy root stocks like Trifoliate, Sour Orange, Swingle or Cleopatra. Elderberry Adams, Johns, Nova, New York 21, York or native plants. Feijoa Apollo, Gemini, Nazemetz, Trask, Coolidge, Mammoth and Triumph or unnamed propagated locally as ornamentals. Fig Celeste, Brown Turkey, San Piero, Magnolia, Alma and Green Ischia.

Jujube Any improved varieties or unnamed propagated locally as ornamentals. Mayhaw Lori, Lindsey, Big Red, Red and Yellow, Mason's Super Berry, T.O. Super Berry, Highway Super Berry. Mulberry White (Downing, New American and Wellington), Black (Black Persian and Noir), and Red (Hicks, Johnson, Stubbs, Townsend, and Travis) or native trees. Muscadine Grape Black: Alachua, Abemarle, Nesbitt, Cowart, Jumbo and Southland. Bronze: Carlos, Dixie, Fry, Doreen, Florida Fry, Granny Val, Golden Isles, Summit, Triumph, Welder, Red's Noble and Southern Home. Jumbo and Fry need other varieties for cross pollination. Muskmelon Ambrosia, Athena, All Star, Magnum 45, Challenger, Explorer, Goldmark, Hy-Mark, Mission, Primo, Solid Gold and Tasty Sweet. Nectarine Sundollar, Suncoast and Sunmist (white flesh); Sunracer and UF Queen (warmer areas).

Pawpaw Flordagold, Flordacrest, Flordadown, Flordaking and UF 2000 (warmer area). Pear Baldwin, Carnes, Flordahome (soft), Orient, Hood (soft), Kieffer, Pineapple and Tenn; Flordahome and Pineapple need to be planted with another variety for cross pollination. Asian Pears including Ya Li, Shimsecki and 20th Century can also be tried but must have more than one variety for cross pollination. Pecan Cape Fear, Elliott, Moreland and Summer. Also Desirable, Gloria Grande, Kiowa and Stuart, but must be sprayed for disease. Persimmon Non-astringent--Fuyu (late), Izu (early) and Matsumoto Wase Fuyu (mid season), Jiro, Ichikikei Jiro, Suruga. Astringent--Gionbo, Hachiya, Saijo, Tanenashi, Sheng and Ormond. Plum Gulf Gold, Gulf Ruby, Gulf Beauty, Gluf Blaze (two or more) together for cross pollination.

Pomegranate Granada, Early Foothill, Ruby Red, Sweet Spanish Papershell, and Wonderful. Prickly Pear Cactus Going Bananas of Homestead Florida Banana & Banana Plant Descriptions Contact Us Banana Plant Descriptions The following list of descriptions gives some of the characteristics, and heights of the plants grown in our location. Please note that the area of the country and growing conditions such as soil type & pH, temperature, humidity, amount of sunlight, fertilizing practices, amount of water and drainage will effect the size and health of your plants. Follow growing instructions carefully to get them off to a good start. Early care and frequent nutrition produce the best results for your plants and the most satisfaction to you, our customers. AEAE - (waiting list only) A beautiful variegated green & white plant that also has multicolored fruit. Usually cooked as a plantain, some also eat it very ripe as a out of hand fruit. Ht. 12-16ft. back to Catalog page AFRICAN RHINOHORN - Height 10-12 feet.

An unusual plantain that produces relatively few fruit but the size of each can weigh 2-3 pounds and be as long as 12-20 inches or more. The pseudostem has a dark burgundy hue which gives rise to the term some call "African Red". A collectors delight, especially when fruiting. Cold sensitive. back to Catalog page DWARF & RED TALL - Known by many names in the world, (Cuban Red, Jamaican Red, Colorado, Indio, Macaboo) this very sweet lady finger fruit is most beautiful. It turns "sunset" colors when ripening from dark burgundy to orange, yellow-green and muted colors in between. The full bodied flavor and distinctive sweetness makes it worth the wait of 24 months or more to give fruit. The tall red, with a dark maroon pseudostem can grow 14-16 ft, the Dwarf version grows about 8-9 ft in our area. The Red Tall and Dwarf Red are the same except for heights. back to Catalog page ENSETE MAURELII - Beautiful ornamental banana-like plant with very large upward extending leaves.

Burgundy coloration in the leaves and midribs that can vary, like the heights, depending on light and other growing conditions. Usually propagated by seed, rather than rhizomes, which are very rare. back to Catalog page GOLDFINGER (FHIA-1) - A rapid growing, mostly green plant producing a wonderful tasting, slightly sub-acid, refreshing fruit that gets 6-8 inches long or better. It is a very disease resistant, wind & cool tolerant plant that is easy to grow. In our area the ripening fruit does not get dark yellow, instead gives only a slight color change when mature so check it often when close to harvesting. Height 10-12 ft. This one is a MUST. back to Catalog page FHIA-02 - Like the FHIA 01 this is bred to be hardy and resistant. The flavor is mild, sweet and very pleasant. One of our favorite grows about 10-12 feet tall. Also known as the Mona Lisa which gives a hint to the subtle beauty of the plant and taste of the fruit.

back to Catalog page ORNAMENTALS - ORNATAS - Some flowering colorful beauties that are a bold addition to landscape and gardens. The erect flower extends upward through the lush greenery and peeps out with color. We carry the Bronze, also called Laterita, Dusky Rose, Magenta, Pink Ornata & Yellow at this time. All magnificent. Cold sensitive. Heights about 5-7 ft. back to Catalog page PELIPITA - A dark green plant that grows about 10-12 ft. tall and produces a cooking banana that is angulated in shape. It is a hardy plant resistant to disease which is why it is used as a progenitor for many other hybrids. back to Catalog page PITOGO - A wonderfully different looking fruit that resembles a fig more than a banana. Its ping-pong ball looking fruit is as delicious as it is unusual. We can't keep enough ahead of the demand. A real conversation piece as well as a special treat. Grows about 10-12 ft. in height.

back to Catalog page SABA - The "sequoia" of the banana plants with huge pseudostem (range 20"-45" diameter) and heights ranging from 16-20 ft. here, however clients have reported even greater sizes in other growing areas of the country. The wonderful tasting cooking banana makes the best tostones we have ever eaten. A sturdy plant and somewhat cool tolerant. (A must for the collector and those that want BIG) back to Catalog page SUPER DWARF - A real midget banana growing about 3 ft. tall with wide leaves and green coloration. It produces a small bunch of medium - large fruit. Great for containerized growing or small spots in the yard or garden. A real cutie. back to Catalog page THAI BLACK **** - Our newest acquisition and a real beauty! It has a polished looking purple-black pseudostem. Appears to be a rapid grower and can get some good height at about 12-14 ft. Produces a moderate bunch of colorful seeded fruit. One thing is certain. They are gorgeous! back to Catalog page THOUSAND FINGERS - This novelty is as unique as beautiful.

When full grown at 10-12 ft. It produces a stalk of tiny round bananas that can continue to make fruit until it touches the ground (sometimes 5 ft. long or more) Mostly used for ornamentation or landscape however the fruit is edible. (If you are patient) back to Catalog page VELUTINA - This small ornamental, 3-6 ft. is a gorgeous thin leaved green plant that produces a small, hot pink, fuzzy banana that stands erect (australimusa). When it is mature it peals itself back exposing a white seeded fruit just ready for the plucking. Use care if eating, the seeds are like a buckshot and could easily chip a tooth. fruits All about fruit My fruit list My list of countries Native to tropical regions, a banana has a tough outer peel that may be yellow, red, green, or black when ripe. All varieties have a sweet fragrance when ripe and contain a soft creamy flesh inside that may be white, yellow or pinkish cream colored. There are hundreds of different varieties of bananas but there are several varieties more commonly available. The Cavendish banana is the most common.

Other varieties include Baby (also known as Lady Finger or Nino), Blue Java ( also known as Ice Cream) Burro, Hua Moa (also known as Hawaiian), Manzano (also known as Apple), Plantain, and the Red banana (also known as the Jamaican). This fruit is often harvested in a green, unripe stage, but will continue to ripen and turn yellow, red, brown and black when kept at room temperature. Bananas are more flavorful when allowed to ripen off the plant. When bananas are refrigerated, the skin darkens quicker, but they are kept from becoming soft and mushy for a longer period of time. How to use: Bananas are most commonly eaten fresh out-of-hand but can be used for many purposes. They can be added to desserts, such as pies, cakes, bars, muffins, and breads. Bananas also go very well when mixed with yogurt, ice cream, puddings, and custards. They are added to fruit salads, adding a sweet flavor and smooth texture to compliment the other fruit. Bananas can also be cooked by baking, frying, boiling, steaming, and sautÃ©ing.

They are used in savory dishes to add a sweet flavor and chewy texture. Bananas can be dried and eaten as a snack. Drying increases their sweetness and produces a nutritious but high calorie snack. Plantains, a bland and starchier variety, are most often cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are a popular ingredient in many African and West Indian dishes. They are generally boiled, baked, fried, broiled, microwaved or mashed, and they are rarely eaten raw as a fruit unless they have ripened to a point where the skins are completely black. At their best: Available year-round. How to buy: The stage of ripeness that you buy bananas at will depend on personal preference and desired use. All green bananas are unripe and should not be eaten. Bananas that are mostly yellow with just a tinge of green at the ends will have a crisp texture and fresh taste. All yellow bananas that have a few small brown or black specks are fully ripe and will have a sweet taste and smooth texture. As more specks develop the banana becomes overripe and although the flesh continues to sweeten, it also begins to soften.

Once the skin is all browned, it is over ripe and should not be eaten but can be mashed and used for cooking. If you are buying bananas to eat out-of-hand, buy them at the stage that you prefer the taste and texture. When purchasing to mix with other fruits to make a salad, buy bananas that are fully ripe. Do not purchase overripe bananas unless you intend on using them for cooking. Plantains should be purchased when green or yellow with black spots if being used for cooking. Do not purchase completely blackened plantains unless you intend to eat them as fresh fruit. Follow these guidelines if buying bananas for immediate use but if you have time for the bananas to ripen to the stage that you desire, you can buy them when they are still green or under ripe and they will ripen at home when stored at room temperature. Avoid purchasing bananas that have soft spots or damaged skins. Storage: Store at room temperature. Do not expose the fruit to extreme temperatures. Unripe bananas should not be stored in the refrigerator because the cold temperature will stop the ripening process. Ripe bananas can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days to extend their usage time before they become too ripe.

Once they are placed in the refrigerator their peel will turn brown but this will not affect the flesh of the banana. If stored with other fruit, bananas will accelerate the ripening of the other fruit. Ripe bananas can be mashed and then frozen. When mashing, add a little lemon juice to prevent the fruit from discoloring. The mashed bananas can be placed in air tight freezer bag and stored in the freezer for up to two months. You can use the frozen bananas in recipes such as salads and fruit shakes or they can be thawed and used in breads, cakes and muffins. Baby banana A smaller variety of the larger Cavendish cousin, shown at the right. The baby banana is very sweet in flavor and unique in its smaller appearance, generally no more than 3 inches long. It is a variety that is often used in fruit salads, for baking breads, or as a snack. The baby banana is grown in the tropical countries of South America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa. When ripe, the skin will be bright yellow and have a cream-colored flesh. Also known as a Finger, a Ladyfinger, a Lady Finger, or a Nino banana.

Blue Java banana A small plump variety of banana that is commonly used as a dessert or snacking banana. It has bluish-green skin that covers a sweet tasting creamy flesh. This banana is also known as the Blue Java Ice Cream banana. Bluggoe Burro Banana Similar to the well-known Cavendish banana, the Burro Banana is flatter, smaller and more square, yet just as versatile. The Burro from Mexico is available year-round and has a tangy lemony flavor. Cavendish Banana The most common variety of banana used in baking, fruit salads, fruit compotes, and to complement foods. It ranges from approximately 6 to 10 inches in length. The outer skin is partially green when sold in food markets and turns yellow when it ripens. When overripe, the skin will turn black and the flesh becomes mushy. Bananas ripen naturally and are at their peak ripeness when the peel is all yellow with a few dark brown specks beginning to appear.

Duccasse Banana Trees | Bananaplantnursery.com Where to Buy Banana Trees All About Banana Trees Bananas are widely regarded as one of the most versitile plants in the world providing starch, nutrients, foliage, fauna and the ever popular tropical look. Bananas belong to a family of plants called Musaceae, this makes it a close relative of heliconias and travelers palm. Banana are ofter reffered as "trees" but in fact they are a herbaceous perennial. Most types require full sun for best fruit production but some prefer shade, especially for ornamental varieties (no fruit, but flowers) such as Musella lasiocarpa. There are many varieties of dwarf types and varieties that reach over 30 feet in height. Plantains look and grow just like bananas but are primarily used in cooked dishes. There are hybrid types that are crosses between banana and plantain. Some you cook, some you don't. There are also ornamental bananas. Some boast colorful leaves and some boast interesting shapes. You can not over feed nor can you over water banana plants although good drainage is required. Bananas require soil rich in organic matter.

Ideally, your rich soil (non muck-like soils) would be over one foot deep with two feet being even better. Raised areas of soil will also help provide adequate drainage. After the bananas corm has matured the tree will start to grow fast. As the first stem starts to grow, another stem will appear close to the first stem finally creating the appearance of a trunk. However this is actually a pseudo trunk. Some banana cultivars have been around for centuries, propagating by human division. Most species of bananas prefer tropical to subtropical growing zones although some Banana cultuvars such as musa Basjoo can be grown as far north as zone 6 giving virtually anyone the ability to grow and experience the wonderful versitile banana tree. The banana some 400 cultivars have earned this writers admiration the world over. Here is a brief snapshop of the different banana cultivars available. Ensete Gilletii

Question: Cavendish, Orinoco and Lady Finger are all varieties of which fruit?
Answer: Banana